Panel feeding apparatus



Jam, "7 W58 A. DURAND 2,819,078

PANEL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT AUGUSTE DURAND ATTORNEYS Jan. 7, 1958 R. A. DURAND 2,819,078

PANEL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RGBERT AUGUSTE DURAND Jan. 7, 1958 R. A. DURAND 2,81%78 PANEL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT AUGUSTE DURAND United States Patent PANEL FEEDING APPARATUS Robert Auguste Durand, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Application March 14, 1955, Serial No. 494,176

7 Claims. (Cl. 271-39) used in connection with plywood, hardboard, softboard,

composition board, and the like panels which are usually at least 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. The thickness of these panels usually ranges anywhere from A1 inch up. However, it is the very thin panels that are difficult to handle.

There is equipment in existence for feeding panels of this nature one at a time off the top of a stack. It usually consists of an endless chain running lengthwise of the stack above the top thereof, this chain having spaced lugs or cleats thereon which engage an end of the uppermost panel to move the latter longitudinally off the stack. With the known equipment, the stack of panels must be evenly piled and in exactly the right position, and the edges of the panels must be trimmed. Even then, the panels are often damaged and often jam in the apparatus, necessitating a shut down in order to clear the jammed panel.

The advantages of the present panel feeding apparatus are as follows:

(1) It cannot damage a panel even if some obstruction stops the movement thereof.

(2) It handles warped or misshapen panels as easily as flat panels.

(3) It is capable of handling panels with untrimmed edges.

(4) The pile or stack of panels does not have to be regular, in exactly the correct position, and/or level.

(5) It will not mar the finished surfaces of the panels.

The apparatus of this invention is usually used to feed panels to a machine, such as a sanding machine, but it may be used merely to feed panels one at a time from the top of a stack to any type of conveyor. The machine to which the panels are being fed may have its own feeding means, such as a pair of power-driven rolls, or the present apparatus may be provided with feeding means. Actually, the present feeding apparatus might move the panels directly into the machine, but it is preferable to provide additional moving or feeding means, in which case, the present apparatus merely starts each panel at the top of the stack moving and aligns it with the extra feeding means.

Panel feeding apparatus according to this invention includes a guide extending in the direction in which the panels are to be moved, a caster roller mounted near the guide, power means connected to the roller for rotating the latter, said roller being mounted normally to roll parallel to the guide, and means yieldably inclining the roller towards the guide. The stack of panels is located beneath the caster roller. The stack is usually elevated the thickness of one panel at a time by equipment wellknown in the field, but the guide and caster roller may be so mounted that they are moved downwardly the thickness of a panel each time. However, th actual handling of the stack of panels does not form part of this invention. In any case, when the inclined roller engages the uppermost panel on the stack, it moves said panel against the guide and then swings to its normal position to move the panel along the guide in the required direction. As stated above, the panel is usually fed into power-driven rolls which move it into a machine for whatsoever action is necessary. If thi is done, it usually is advisable to provide means for lifting the caster roller clear of the panel after it is gripped by the powered rolls.

In order to reduce the friction of the uppermost panel against the next panel as much as possible, it is desirable to move the panel laterally first and then to move it longitudinally. However, this maybe reversed if it is warranted by the circumstances. For fairly long panels, it is advisable to employ a plurality of caster rollers which may be independently mounted or mounted on a single supporting frame. ,The angle of inclination of these rollers to the guide may be the same or, if desired, the angle of one roller to the guide may be different from that of the other. .In this case, the uppermost panel is subject to a twisting action during the first part of the movement thereof. This is to help break the seal between said panel and the next one. on the stack. if a single caster wheel is located closer to one end of the panel than to the other end thereof, it will tend to twist the panel slightly relative to the underneath one during the first part of its movement.

An example of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a reduced side elevation of one form of stack-holding apparatus with two caster rollers mounted thereon,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one form of feeding apparatus according to the present invention,

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the feed apparatus,

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 77 of Figure 5, v

Figure 8 diagrammatically illustrates the action of a pair of caster rollers on a panel,

Figure 9 diagrammatically illustrates two pairs of caster rollers positioned side by side and operating in opposite directions, and

Figure 10 diagrammatically illustrates controls for raising and lowering theone or more caster rollers and for raising the panel stack.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 10 is panel stack holding apparatus having a base 11, four upright pillars 12 at the corners thereof, and longitudinal supporting beams 13 at the upper ends of these pillars. A platform 15 is mounted for vertical movement in this apparatus in any desired manner. In this example, the platform is connected at its opposite ends to pairs of chains 17 and 18. Each of the chains 17 extend around upper and lower sprockets 20 and 21, while each chain 18 extends around upper and lower sprockets 23 and 24. Upper sprockets 20 and 23 are fixedly mounted respectively on shafts 26 and 27. Sprockets 29 and 30 are fixedly mounted on corresponding ends of shafts 26 and 27, and a chain 31 extends around these sprockets. When chain 31 is moved in one direction, the chains 17 and 18 are moved together to raise platform 15, and when said chain 31 is moved in the opposite direction, the other chains are moved to lower the platform. In this example, chain 31 ismoved by a hydraulic cylinder 33 mounted on one of the beams 13 above said chain. The piston rod 34 of this cylinder is connected at its outer end by a lug 35 to chain 31.

Roller means may be provided for helping to load the apparatus 10, althoughvthis is not absolutely necessary. In the present example, platform 15 is formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots 38 therein, and these slots fit over a plurality of rollers 39 mounted on base 11 when the platform is in its lowermost position. At this time, the rollers projectabove the upper surface of the platform so that a stack or bundle of panels may be rolled into the apparatus on these rollers. When the platform is raised, it lifts the stack off the rollers. I

The apparatus described so far is in common use, and does not form part of this invention. In addition to this, the apparatus 10 may be provided with a pair of feed rolls 41 and 42 near the upper end of thepillars 12 at one end of said apparatus. One of the rolls, in this example roll 42, may be driven in any desired manner, such as by means of a hydraulic motor 43, see Figure 3, mounted on a bracket 44 carried by one of the pillars 12. This motor is connected to the roll by a shaft 45. if desired, the upper roll41 may be spring-loaded towards the other roll in the usual manner, and spring loading means for this apparatus is illustrated at 47, said means acting on the shaft 48 of said roll.

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the panel feeding apparatus generally designated by the reference numeral 50. This apparatus includes a caster roller 51 which is mounted at the top of the previously-described apparatus 10. .In this example the feed apparatus includes a vertical pm 54 and an L-shaped support 55 mounted to pivot about the axis of this pin. This may be accomplished by providing the support with a pair of spaced lugs 56 which are rotatably mounted on the pin. The caster roller 51 is carried by or rotatably mounted on an axle 58 spaced from the pin and lying in a substantially horizontal plane extending at rightangles to the pin axis. If desired, the roller may be provided with a rubber tire 6t).

The caster roller 51 is rotated by any suitable power means which may be located at any desired point. However, it is preferable to use a hydraulic motor 63 mounted at the upper end of the vertical portion of the L- shaped support 55. This motor has a drive shaft 64 which is connected to the roller axle 58 in any convenient manner, such as by sprockets 65 and 66, and chain 67.

A bracket carries pin 54 and, consequently, support 55 with its roller 51. by a portion of the apparatus 10 in any desired manner. As it is preferable to be able to raise and lower the caster roller, the bracket may be carried by a pair of spaced and parallel arms 72 which are pivotally connected at one end at 73 to the bracket, said arms being pivotally connected at their opposite ends at 74 to a standard 75 Wind], in turn, is carried. by a bar 76 that extends between the beams 13 at the top of apparatus 10, see Figure 2. The upper end of support 75 is formed with a projection 76a to which one end of an air cylinder 77 is pivotally connected at 78. The piston rol 79 of this cylinder is connected at 80 to the upper arm 72 near bracket 70. When the piston rod 79 is drawn into its. cylinder, arms 72 are raised to lift the bracket without tipping the latter, and when the. piston rod is moved out of its cylinder, the bracket is lowered. This action raises and lowers roller 51.

A guide in the. form of a bar 84 is mounted on. the apparatus 14) near the top and to one side thereof, see Figures 1 and 2. This bar extends towards the feed rolls 41-42 which is the direction in which. the. panels are to be. moved. Theseffigures show two caster rollers 51. As they and their associated parts are. identical, only one has been described in detail, and the same reference numerals are used for both rollers. The caster This bracket is supported mounting of each roller 51 is such that it normally rolls "parallel to the guide 84, or in other words, the support 55 extends outwardly from pin 54 in the general direction in which the panels are to be moved. However, suitable means has been provided for yieldably inclining the roller towards the guide. This may be accomplished by means of a spring 83, see Figures 6 and 7, which is connected at one end to the support 55 and at its opposite end to a lug 89 which projects outwardly from the bracket 7%. A set screw 90 carried by this lug extends towards support 55 in order to adjust the angle thereof relative to guide 84.

Figure 2 shows two caster rollers 51, and the angle of inclination of each to guide 84 is different from that of the other. It is to be understood, however, that they both may be inclined at the same angle. In addition to this, there may be only one of these rollers, or there may be several of them depending upon the size and weight of the panels to be moved.

If desired, a shear bar may be mounted in the apparatus 10 just ahead of the entrance between the power rollers 41 and 42, see Figures 1, 3 and 4. In this example, the bar is provided with a downwardlyextending arm 96 at each end thereof which is adjustably connected to a pillar 12 by means of bolts 97, said bolts extending through a slot 98 in the arm. This allows the shear bar to be adjusted up and down, such adjustment depending upon the thickness of the sheets being handled in the apparatus.

The operation of the panel feeding apparatus is as follows:

A stack of panels 100 is moved on to the platform 15 when the latter is at its lowermost position. The platform is raised by means of the hydraulic cylinder 33 until the uppermost panel engages the caster rollers 51, said rollers being in their lower positions at this time. The shear bar 95 is so adjusted that it overlaps the second panel from the top of the stack, but does not interfere with the upper panel. At this time, the caster rollers are inclined towards the guide 84, as clearly shown in Figure 2. When these rollers are rotated by the hydraulic motor 63, they move the uppermost panel laterally and forwardly in the apparatus 10 towards the guide. If the rollers are located closer to one end of panel than the other end thereof, as shown, they tend to twist the panel relative to the one underneath it during the first part of the movement thereof. When the panel engages the guide, the resistance to the movement of the panel causes the caster rollers to pivot into their normal positions against the tension of springs 88 so that they are now rolling parallel to the guide and in the direction of the power rollers 41 and 42. This moves the panel into the space between these rollers, and as they grip it, they feed the panel in the desired direction. It is usually desirable to turn the caster rollers faster than the power rollers and, therefore, it is helpful to lift the former from the panel when the latter is moving it. Thus, air cylinders 77 are operated in a manner de scribed hereinafter to raise the caster rollers. This allows springs 88 to return the rollers to their positions inclined relative to the guide bar. When the panel has advanced a predetermined distance, cylinder 33 is operated to raise platform 15 a distance equal to the thickness of a panel. At the same time, the caster rollers are lowered to engage the next panel to move it in the same manner. The shear bar 95 prevents the second panel from the top being moved along with the top panel. In addition to this, the angle of inclination of the two caster rollers to the guide may be difierent, as shown in Figure 2, so that a twisting action is imparted to the panel as it is moved towards the guide. This helps to break the top panel from the next one down in the pile.

Figure 8 diagrammatically illustrates the action of the caster rollers in .moving the panel. The rollers shown in full lines are in the positions they assume when they start to move the panel towards the guide, said panel also being shown in full lines. The rollers and panel are shown in broken lines in the positions just after the panel engages the guide. Finally, the rollers and panel are shown in dot and dash lines when the rollers are in their normal positions parallel with the guide and are moving the panel in the desired direction along the latter.

Sometimes it is necessary to feed comparatively narrow panels to a machine capable of handling full width panels. Figure 9 illustrates half panels 105 arranged in stacks side by side. Guides 84a and 84b are arranged above the two stacks and extend along the outer edges thereof. A pair of caster rollers 51a are positioned above one stack and inclined towards guide 84a, while another pair of caster rollers 51b are above the other stack and inclined towards the guide 84b. With this arrangement, panels may be fed alternately ofl? each of the two stacks.

Figure 10 diagrammatically illustrates controls that may be used with this apparatus. A limit switch 110 having a plunger 111 is located just outside power rolls 4142, while another limit switch 112 having a plunger 113 is positioned above the stack 100 just inside the power rolls. When the panel being fed through the power rolls raises plunger 111, switch 110 is open to de-energize a solenoid 115 that controls an air valve 116. This valve is' capable of directing air from a pipe 117 extending from a suitable source, not shown, to either of pipes 118 extending to the opposite ends of air cylinder 77, and this valve is also capable of connecting either of the latter pipes to an exhaust pipe 119. When solenoid 115 is deenergized, cylinder 77 is operated to raise roller 51. When the panel clears the plunger and allows it to move downwardly, switch 110 is closed to energize the solenoid and this causes cylinder 77 to move the caster roller downwardly until it engages the next panel in the stack.

Plunger 113 of switch 112 normally rides on the upper surface of the top panel of the stack. When the end of this panel clears the plunger, the latter drops down to the switch and energizes the solenoid 124 that controls a valve 125. This valve connects one of the pipes 126 to a pressure pipe 127 extending from a suitable source, not shown, and the other pipe to an exhaust pipe 128. As pipes 126 are connected to the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder 33, the latter is operated to raise platform 15, and consequently, the panel stack. As soon as the uppermost panel raises plunger 113, switch 112 is opened to de-energize solenoid 124, and this stops the operation of cylinder 33.

The use of the hydraulic motor 63 to turn the caster wheel 51 has the advantage that such motors include a valve controlled by-pass which may be set to open at a predetermined pressure. This means that if .a panel that is being moved by the caster wheel is stopped for any reason whatsoever, the fluid operating the motor, upon reaching the predetermined pressure, merely by-passes so that the roller stops turning. This eliminates any possibility of damaging the panel at this time. By applying the caster roller to the upper surface of the panel to be moved, the movement thereof is not interfered with even if the panel is warped. Furthermore, this enables the apparatus to handle panels with untrimmed edges, and it is obvious that the panels do not have to be placed exactly right in the stack, or that the stack must be in exactly the right position in apparatus 10, or that the top of the stack must be level. By providing the caster roller with a rubber tire, panels with finished surfaces may be handled by this feeding apparatus Without said surfaces being marred or damaged.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus for feeding the upper panel from a panel stack, a guide extending in the direction in which panels are to be moved, and a plurality of panel movers adjacent the guide; each panel mover comprising a vertical pin, a support mounted to pivot about the axis of the pin and normally extending substantially in the direction of panel movement, a roller mounted on the support with its axis spaced from and lying in a substantially horizontal plane extending at right angles to the pin axis, power means connected to the roller for rotating the latter, and means yieldably inclining the support and roller towards the guide in the direction of panel movement; said inclined rollers on engaging an upper panel lying therebeneath moving said panel against the guide and the inclining means being sufiiciently yieldable to permit the rollers at this time to swing about the pins to their normal positions parallel to the guide whereby they move the panel along the latter.

2. Panel feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the angle of each roller to the guide is different from that of each other roller.

3. Panel feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each power means is a hydraulic motor in a hy draulic circuit, said circuit including a by-pass release which operates when the resistance of a panel to the roller reaches a predetermined point.

4. In apparatus for feeding the upper panel from a panel stack, a guide extending in the direction in which panels are to be moved, a caster roller mounted near the guide, a hydraulic motor connected to the roller for rotating the latter, said motor being in a hydraulic circuit, said roller being mounted normally to roll parallel to the guide, means yieldably inclining the roller towards the guide in the direction of panel movement, said inclined roller on engaging an upper panel lying therebeneath moving said panel against the guide and the inclining means being sufficiently yieldable to permit the roller at this time to swing to its normal position parallel to the guide whereby it moves the panel along the latter, and a by-pass release in the hydraulic circuit which opcrates when the resistance of a panel to the roller reaches a predetermined point.

5. In apparatus for feeding the upper panel from a panel stack, a guide extending in the direction in which panels are to be moved, a vertical pin near the guide, a support mounted to pivot horizontally about the axis of the pin and normally extending substantially in the direction of panel movement, a roller mounted on the support with its axis spaced from and lying in a substantially horizontal plane extending at right angles to the pin axis, power means mounted on the support and connected to the roller for rotating the latter, and means yieldably inclining the support and roller towards the: guide in the direction of panel movement, said inclined roller on engaging an upper panel lying therebeneath moving said panel against the guide and the inclining means being sufiiciently yieldable to permit the roller at: this time to swing about the pin to its normal position parallel to the guide whereby it moves the panel along the latter.

6. In apparatus for feeding the upper panel from a panel stack, a guide extending in the direction in which panels are to be moved, a vertical pin near the guide, a support mounted to pivot horizontally about the axis of the pin and normally extending substantially in the direction of panel movement, a roller mounted on the support with its axis spaced from and lying in a substantially horizontal plane extending at right angles to the pin axis, a hydraulic motor mounted on the support, said motor having a drive shaft connected to the roller through suitable drive means for rotating said roller, and means yieldably inclining the support and roller towards the guide in the direction of panel movement, said inclined roller on engaging an upper panel lying thereheneath moving said panel against the guide and the inclining means being sufiiciently yieldable to permit the roller at this time to swing about the pin to its normal position parallel to the guide whereby it moves the panel along the latter.

7. In apparatus for feeding the upper panel from a panel stack, a guide extending in the direction in which panels are to be moved, a plurality of spaced caster rollers mounted near the guide, power means connected to each roller for rotating the latter, said rollers being mounted normally to roll parallel to the guide, and means yieldably inclining each roller towards the guidein the direction of panel movement, the angle of one roller to the guide being difierent from that of another roller, said differently inclined rollers on engaging an upper panel lying therebeneath simultaneously imparting a twisting motion to the panel and moving said panel against the guide and the inclining means being sufiiciently yieldable to permit the rollers at this time to swing to their normal positions parallel to the guide whereby they move the panel along the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rufi Juy 1-2, 1921 Broadmeyer June 20, 1933 Spiess July 4, 1939 Broadmeyer Mar, 8, 1949 Gibson Apr. 6, 1954 Bailey June 1, 1954 Noon Oct. 28, 1956 

